CATEGORY:COMMENTARY ---------------------- INSIDE GRENADA WEDNESDAY September 05,2007 by Lloyd Noel (Editor's note: The following information represents the views/opinions of the writer and not necessarily those of Grenadian Connection). In a book entitled ---“The moral life” - sent to me while I was in detention between July 1981 end October, 1983, I saw and made a note of this statement. “It is natural for a small child to accept without question everything said to him by his elders. It is not natural for an adult to do so. He must examine the ideas he has received and find some standard by which to judge whether they are true or not. Otherwise he is still behaving like a child.” Often times when I hear big men and women saying that they accepting what those in control of our public affairs say to them - because they are the ones in control, whether in Government or Opposition - I remember the above quotation and remain puzzled, that after nearly twenty-five years since that rescue mission so many of our people are still behaving like children. There is an ever present danger that many are still saying - “what can I do?” If only members of the Churches, for example, both as individuals and in co-operation with others - would stand up for Christian Principles, practicing and insisting on Justice, denouncing corruption and partiality, it would be amazing how much would be achieved in due course of time. To think that we are powerless is to have already surrendered our strength to someone or group who is going to manipulate our weaknesses. On the other hand, those who willfully take advantage of the reluctance by the people to stand up for their rights; and use their positions of power to further enrich themselves illegally; or to impose or bring undue pressure on those who depend on them for their livelihood in one form or another - they can fool themselves for a while, but not forever by any means. “D-day” may seem a long time in coming, but sooner or later it will surely come - as good always triumph over evil. In our dear land these days, so many things are wrong or going wrong, and so much bad publicity and damaging claims are falling at the doors of our public officials and the Government as a whole - that it has become too ridiculous for words. And what is giving so much cause for concern, is the fact that the wrong doings are just draining and further depleting our already nearly-empty Treasury. And while all these and those are taking place, the powers-that-be and those with responsibility to account - they are going about their business as though nothing is happening, and the complainants are merely rabble-rousers making noises, because they are power-hungry and simply looking for ways and means to take over the reins of power. “The Cheltenham Fiasco” is not finished yet as we await the Commissioner’s report by month end. But except for those blinded by political disease of the eyes, as well as party-loyalty contamination of the brain cells that are making them stupidee - the rest of the population are fully aware that the people have been taken for an expensive and useless public pappy-show that is a national disgrace by those responsible. We know from way back when, of the heavy spending of those money-laundering funds from the FIBG off-shore Bank that brought about the clean sweep in the 1999 General Elections; and we saw first hand how that episode damaged our National image abroad and put us on the global financial black list. The major con-man Van Brink, or Ziegler, or however he was called here in Grenada and overseas - he and his crooked cronies were arrested and charged by the U.S. authorities for the over $170, Million dollars they defrauded U.S. Citizens. Some Grenadians who aided and abetted the International scam here in Grenada, were lucky (so far) that they escaped arrest and extradition to Portland in Oregon, USA to stand trial with those con-men. But as fate, and poetic justice, and the hands of that Mighty deliverer of true justice would provide it - the same “1996 Mutual Legal Assistance Treaty” that exists between the U.S.A. and Grenada, was used by the U.S.A. for the FBI to come to Grenada and escort three Grenadians - including the Registrar of the Supreme Court - to Portland in Oregon to give evidence in the Cases against those offshore fraudsters. And that is the same Treaty that could and should have been used by the Commission of Inquiry, to get the Video Tape and Timothy Bass Evidence in Grenada - to clear up the mystery that those jokers involved are now saying the opposition did not assist in getting to Grenada, as though the said opposition is the Government of Grenada, with its own Foreign Affairs Ministry and Legal Department to inter-face with the U.S. Government under the said Treaty. But as the old saying goes - what goes around is bound to come back around - because life, like human behavior, is like a circle it operates in cycles. And as the evidence given by the witnesses in that matter in Oregon has now surfaced, and further shows the depth of corruption and illegality that was in force in that off-shore Bank scandal, that aided and abetted those con men/women to defraud the U.S. Citizens of their life savings in many cases - the remaining hangers-on who are still on the bandwagon, lining their pockets and making their excuses for the shame and disgrace that passes for control and authority of our public affairs, they are all over the news media denying knowledge of all that went on in those times, as though they really expect anyone to believe them. The only reality that they should be paying attention to in this continuing scandal - is that the evil that men/women do always come back to haunt them, because evil deeds live on while the good deeds so often are interred with their bones. And just as they are all washing their hands like Pilate now-a-days, and disclaiming that they even knew the people involved - so too will their turn come to fruition in the fullness of time, because what goes around always come back around. And as the court houses scandal continue un-abated we got some belated news last week that took place at the Privy Council in London since the 23rd of July, 2007, in the case concerning Hugh Wildman versus The Judicial and Legal Services Commission (JLSC). Readers will recall that the Government attempted to have Wildman appointed as Attorney General early last year, as a public officer rather than a political appointment as a Senator. The Bar Association objected very strongly, because we were convinced that in addition to Wildman not being a suitable Candidate to be head of the Bar - as the Attorney General is supposed to be - there were other sinister motives behind the scene for making him the Attorney General cum Director of Public Prosecution. We even took to the streets to show and demonstrate our disapproval, on behalf of our people. The JLSC gave him the benefit of a hearing in the presence of the Bar representatives, and allowed him to appear with whoever he wished. At the end the JLSC refused to recommend his appointment to the Governor General, who had no other choice in the matter but to accept that decision. Mr. Wildman, with the backing of Government and the Attorney General Nimrod, filed for Judicial Review in the High Court against the JLSC decision. The matter was heard by Mr. Justice Baptiste and Mr. Wildman was represented by Mr. Ramesh Maharag - the JLSC was represented by J.S. Archibald & Co. from the B.V.I. Justice Baptiste ruled against Wildman, and readers would recall how he lambasted the poor Judge and accused him of all manner of Bias and Malice. Wildman appealed and had James Guthrie Q.C. from England join Ramesh before the Court of Appeal. The English Q.C. appeared for about two hours before the Court, after his fees estimated to be about (£20,000.00) One Hundred Thousand E.C. dollars was safely in his Bank Account in London. The Court of Appeal turned down the Appeal, and again using he same English Q.C. Wildman appealed to the Privy Council in London. The JLSC was represented by Dingemans Q.C. at the Privy Council. Three Privy Council Judges heard the arguments by both Q.C’s, and after a short interval to consider it they promptly dismissed the Appeal with Costs to the JLSC. Wildman cum Government’s Legal costs for Guthrie Q.C. must be another £25,000.00; and the JLSC’s Costs would be about £35 to £40,000.00, i.e. over $200,000.00. When all is added up, we looking at nearly half a Million ($1/2 M) E.C.C. dollars from our Treasury in these gru-gru days Or is Mr. Wildman going to pay the legal costs in the Privy Council, as he boasted he did for the Court of Appeal - when he published some bogus bills or Invoices paid to James Guthrie, Q.C. in London? And whereas in the Gregory Bowen’s matter, where there was a temporary discontinuance order, because of the time limitation statute in the claimant’s state of Colorado - Wildman and Bowen were in a press conference within hours of the Court’s ruling in Bowen’s favor, claiming victory. In the Privy Council Case over a month has gone by, and not a word to the people who would be paying those huge Bills, for a wasteful exercise that was doomed to fail even before it left our Court in Grenada - Squandermania in deed. And as we sit and wait by the road sides, up and down the country side, for word of when Grenadians would be given another opportunity to return the current Government onto the seats of power, or reject them after three terms in control and install a new team in its place - we recently got the breaking news, that both the Supervisor of Elections and his long-standing Deputy have been thrown out of the Elections office to make room for new guys on the block. The rumor has been making the rounds for some time that the Prime Minister had indicated to the Deputy’s brother that the deputy had to be removed. No reasons were advanced for the major “house cleaning” as it were - but the fact that both were removed in one lash, tend to indicate that something with un-pleasant smell seems to be afoot; and those with eyes on the top rungs of the ladder had better take serious note and do their homework. And Grenadians as a whole have to be very concerned, and very vigilant about ensuring that their names are where they should be on the list of voters - for General Elections when ever they are called. And as the young ones make their way to their class rooms in new schools, for those who have passed exams to move to the next stage in their Educational development, or those who are returning to higher classes or forms in their old schools - the cries of parents nation-wide have been repeated time and time again, that the Books and Uniform prices are un-affordable. And I am sure hundreds of children have gone back to school this week, and many going back next week for one reason or another, with out all the listed books for their new classes - because the parents cannot afford to buy them all. And they also have to cope with the bus fares and snacks that have also gone up in prices - and the majority of those parents are un-employed, or struggling to make ends meet with odd jobs. And to add chaos to confusion, the majority of those elder children who have passed CXC or CAPE or what have you, and cannot afford to move to higher education, they are sitting at home with no jobs to go to and so help their siblings. It is against that background, and chaotic state of affairs, that those in authority are spending so much of the people’s money in Court houses Worldwide - and why I am predicting that the heat is definitely getting hotter.